Pickup cloth for lawn debris



June 12, 1956 R. G. HOOPINGARNER 2,749,695

PICKUP CLOTH FOR LAWN DEBRIS Filed June 13, 1953 3 Sheets-Sheet l 4' IN VEN TOR. fie V676 Q //00 174177162:

June 12, 1956 R. G. HOOPINGARNER 2,749,695

PICKUP CLOTH FOR LAWN DEBRIS 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June 19, 1953 IN V EN TOR. fierere 5' flea 27477767.

WA k/l irrozwyzk Jun 12, 1956 R. e. HOOPINGARNER 2,749,695

PICKUP CLOTH FOR LAWN DEBRIS 3 Sheets-Sheet Filed June 19, 1953 E ,NVENTOR ,%Vere #00 1774777871 BY \7/ c irrox/vz/ FICKUP CLOTH FOR LAWN DEBRIS Revere G. Hoopingarner, RoyalOak, Mich.

Application June 19, 1953, Serial No. 362,913

.16 Claims. (Cl. 56-1) This invention relates to a pickup device facilitating the removal of leaves, twigs and other debris from ground surface such as lawns.

Removal of debris from lawns is conventionally effected by raking or sweeping the debris on tarpaulins, blankets or other cloths which are thereafter bundled up to facilitate the carrying of the debris. In this operation it is difiicult to maintain the .cloth in open position so that the debris may be raked or swept thereon and the bundling up of an ordinary cloth is accompanied by difiiculties of carrying and dumping while attaining maximum capacity of the cloth.

An object of this invention is the provision of a pickup cloth wherein the opposite edges of the cloth may be latched together to form a pouch in which is disposed the debris previously swept upon the cloth.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a pickup cloth in accordance with the preceding object in which there is provided an operating handle for carrying the pouch and for manipulating the edges of the cloth into latched position.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a pickup cloth in accordance with the preceding objects in which means is provided for readily disengaging the opposite edges of the cloth to facilitate dumping of the debris from the pouch when in desired position.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a pickup cloth in accordance with the preceding objects in which one of the to be engaged edges of the cloth is provided with a rigid member which is anchored in the ground and over which the debris .is to be removed is moved.

Another object of the invention is the provision of pickup cloth in accordance with the preceding object in which the rigid member is disposed at one of the engaging edges of the cloth and serves to vrigidify it, with the opposite edge of the cloth provided with a rigidifying member to which the operating handle is removably clamped, and with the rigid member and the rigidifying member carrying cooperating latching means which operate when the edges of the cloth are engaged to latch them together, the latches being readily disengaged when the pouch is brought to a dumping position.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a pickup cloth in accordance with the preceding objects in which the edges of the cloth other than the engaged edges are provided with means for drawing them together to complete the sides of the pouch and to render the enclosure for the pickup debris more complete.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a pickup cloth having opposite rigid edges adapted to be latched together to form a pouch and an operating handle for carrying the pouch and manipulating the edges of the cloth, in which the latching means is carried directly by the handle which is rotatable in one edge to present either a notched latching surface or a smooth unlatching surface to the opposite :edge and in which means is Patented June 12, 1956 provided for locking the handle against rotation from its latching position.

Other objects and features of the invention will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art'from the specification and appended drawings illustrating certain preferred embodiments in which:

Figure 1 is a plan view of the device showing the cloth spread open upon the ground in position to have debris swept thereon.

Figure 2 is a plan view with the pickup cloth folded over to engage the opposite rigid edges with the cloth partly broken away and in section.

Figure 3 is a detail enlarged sectional view on the line Iii-ill of Figure 1.

Figure 4- is a view similar to Figure 2 but showing the sides of the pouch completed by the drawing together of the cloth edges other than the engaged edges.

Figure 5 is a perspective view of the pouch pickup cloth in carrying position.

Figure 6 is a perspective view of the pickup cloth in dumped position.

Figure 7 is an enlarged detail elevational view showing a means for latching together the engaged edges of the cloth.

Figure 8 is a detail sectional view on the line VIII-VIII of Figure 7, and showing an attachment detail.

Figure 9 is a partial plan view of a modified form of the invention.

Figure 10 is an enlarged detail sectional view on the line X-X of Figure 9.

Figure 11 is a partial perspective view of the modified form in carrying position.

Figure 12 is a partial perspective view of the modified form in dumped position.

In Figure l the pickup .cloth 1 is shown in its spreadout or debris receiving position and as being provided with a pair of opposite rigidified edges 2 and 3 and a. pair of opposite free edges 4 and 5. The front edge 3 of the device is rigidified by means of a strap 6 of any desired material such as wood or plastic having clamped thereon a pickup member 7, preferably of metal, which may take a form similar to that disclosed and claimed in my Patent No. 2,630,663, granted March 10, 1953, for Pick-Up Member for Lawn Debris.

As shown in Figure 8, the pickup member 7 may have a plurality of studs 8 welded or otherwise attached to its under surface and extending through the strap 6 and clamped thereto by a nut 9. The edge of the pickup cloth 1 is looped about the strap 6 as also shown'in Figure 8.

The opposite edge 2 of the pickup cloth 1 is formed with a similar loop within which is disposed a rigidifying member shown in Figure 3 as a tube 11.

The sheet metal pickup member 7 is provided adjacent its opposite ends with a pair of heavy prongs 12 which may be inserted into the ground to anchor the pickup member and hold the forward edge of the cloth in position.

The top surfaces of the prongs 12, as viewed in Figure l, are provided with hasps 13 welded or otherwise secured thereto or formed integrally therefrom, the hasp .13 thereby being rigid with the pickup member 7 and, through its clamping engagement, also with the strap 6 and the front edge of the pickup cloth. The forward, bottom edge of the pickup member 7 is provided with serrations or teeth 14 which dig into the grass of a lawn, as previously disclosed in the patent cited above.

The rear edge 2 of the pickup cloth 1 is provided with a pair of latches 15 rigidly mounted upon the tube 11 as by means of U clamps 16 and spaced apart upon the tube 11 in position to receive the hasps 13 at the front edge of the pickup cloth. The latches 15 are composed of generally U-shaped supporting and mounting brackets 17 between the legs of which are pivotally mounted levers 18 carrying integral latching fingers 19 cooperating with the forwardly directed slots in the supporting members 17. Supporting members 17 are provided with openings 21 therethrough through which may be passed the hasp of a lock to prevent movement of the levers 18 into unlatching position. Springs 22 bias the levers 18 into latching position. An operating cord 23, which may be of wire, plastic or fiber, connects the two levers 18, passing through suitable eyes 24 mounted in the tube 11. A ring 25 is disposed adjacent the mid portion of the cord 24 and this is adapted to be engaged by a snap hook 26 at one end of a cord 27 passing through eyes 28 upon a handle 29 and terminating in a ring 31 by which the cords 27 and 24 may be manipulated to move the levers 18 into unlatching position.

The forward end of the handle has attached thereto a metallic member 32 which terminates at its forward end in an areuate clamping portion 33 adapted to engage one side of the tube 11 through the loop in the pickup cloth 1. The member 32 has a bent down and pressed out portion 34 through which is threaded the clamping stud 35 terminating in an arcuate portion 36 and serving to securely and rigidly clamp the handle 2 to the pickup member 11 and the pickup cloth 1, in readily disassembled relation.

The sides of the pickup cloth 1 which terminate in the edges 4- and are provided with elongated narrow pockets 37 sewn thereon and in which are disposed stiffening stays 33 one of which, at the upper right hand corner of Figure 1, has been pulled partially from its pocket to indicate its dimension. With the stays 33 stiffening the sides of the pickup cloth, when it is opened these sides will fall out flat to present the cloth in its largest dimension. The edges 4 and 5 of the pickup cloth are provided with a plurality of eyelets 39 in which are received rings 41 through which pass drawstrings or cords 42, the ends of the drawstrings 42 passing through eyes 43 mounted adjacent the ends of the strap 6 and the tube 11. Hooks 44 receiving the ends of the drawstring 41 when drawn tight are provided adjacent the ends of the strap 6.

The operation of the form of the invention shown in Figures 1 through 8 is as follows:

The pickup cloth is shown in Figure 1 in the position it assumes when it is spread out on a lawn to receive debris to be swept thereon. In this position the prongs 12 of the pickup member 7 are pressed into the ground and the pickup cloth is thereby anchored with the member 7 providing a rigid platform over which the debris may be swept onto the cloth. After the cloth is filled, the handle 29 is picked up by the operator who thereby lifts the rear edge 2 of the pickup cloth and folds it over into the position of Figure 2. As the operator engages the edge 2 with the edge 3 of the cloth, the hasps 13 are received within the forward facing slots in the latches and the hasps engage the latching fingers 19 of the levers 18 to move them counter-clockwise against the bias of springs 22 into unlatching position. After the hasps 13 pass in back of the latching finger 19, the levers 18 swing back into latching position under the bias of the springs 22, thus securely latching together the edges 2 and 3 of the pickup cloth and also indexing the edges in transverse alignment.

If drawstrings 42 are not used, the pouch formed by the folded over pickup cloth shown in Figure 2 may be lifted immediately by the handle 29 and carried to its dumping position. When in dumping position, the cord 27 is pulled to move the levers 18 into unlatching position through the cords 23. During this operation the edge 2 is held in the air as shown in Figure 6 and the debris is dumped out as the edge 3 falls, also as shown in this figure. Thereafter the pickup cloth may be returned to the lawn in the position of Figure l or may be stored as described hereinafter.

Where the drawstrings 41 are used, both ends of these drawstrings are .pulledacross to the remote hook 44 to close the ends of the pouch and the parts assume the position of Figure 4. Thereafter, the cloth may be lifted through the handle as shown in Figure 5 and with the drawstrings tight as explained, the complete pouch prevents loss of debris through the ends thereof at the edges 4 and 5 which might otherwise occur.

When thereafter the cloth is moved to dumping position, the drawstrings 41 are first released and thereafter the latches 15 are released through manipulation of the cord 27 on the handle and the edge 3 again falls downwardly as shown in Figure 6 to dump the debris into the position selected.

It will be seen that the handle 29 may be readily disassembled from the pickup cloth by manipulation of the clamping stud 35. When this is loosened, the clamping member 36 is retracted from the tube 11 and the member 52. may be then readily removed from the tube 11 and, with the removal of the snap hook 26 from the ring 25, the handle is entirely disassembled from the pickup cloth. For packaging of the pickup cloth device herein disclosed, the handle is then usually assembled with the rigid edges 2 and 3 and they are wrapped or bundled in the cloth which has, in the meantime, its sides folded inwardly. The rolling of the handle and the rigid edges in the cloth forms a neat and compact package for carrying and storing. For operation, the cloth is simply unrolled and the handle readily assembled to the tube 11 as shown and the snap hook 26 engaged with the ring 25. With this simple connection, the pickup cloth is ready for use.

The modification of the invention shown in Figures 9 through 12 is of a greatly simplified form which, while not as rugged as the preferred form shown in Figures 1 through 8, is much more economical and functions satisfactorily where lighter loads are to be carried and the device is subjected to less frequent use.

In this form of the invention, the hasps 13 and the latches 15 are omitted and there is substituted for the handle 29 another handle 51 terminating at its forward end in a finishing cap 52 and having projecting therefrom a stud 53 having a back portion 54 threaded into the handle 51 and a curved prong portion 55. As shown in Figure 10, the convex surface of the prong 55 is smooth and the concave portion thereof is provided with a plurality of notches of irregular conformation having sharp sides 56 facing toward the body portion of the handle and inclined sides 57 facing forwardly.

The handle 51 is shown in Figure 10 as mounted on the tube 11 by passing through a transverse opening therethrough, a straight portion of the stud 53 being received within the opening through the tube 11. The handle 51 is held on the tube 11 in readily removable relation by means of a washer 58 and a locking pin 59, the handle thus being assembled with the tube 11 so that it may be rotated relative thereto about the axis of the handle. Upon the side of the handle conforming to the concave surface of the prong S5 of the stud 53 and aligned with the plane thereof are a pair of studs 61 and 62 passing through elongated slots in a member 64 reciprocable relative to the handle 51 and adapted in its forward position to engage the tube 11 to prevent rotation of the handle 51 relative thereto. The portion of the member 64 engaging the tube 11 is shown as transversely curved at 65. The stud 62 is shown as headed to provide a guide and retaining means for the member 64 and the stud 61 is provided with a wing nut 66 for clamping the member 64 in its opposite extreme positions.

In the modification of the invention shown in Figures 9 through 12, the pickup member 7 is provided with an opening 60 adjacent the mid-portion thereof which also passes through the strap 6 and into which the prong 55 of the stud 53 is projected when the pickup cloth 1 is folded over into pouch making position similar to the position shown in Figure 2 for the preferred form. When the edges 2 and 3 of the modification are thus brought together, the handle can be in the position shown in Figure 11 and the member 64 may be in its projected position since the prong 55 will readily pass the edges of the hole 6t) due to the inclined sides of the notches in the concave surface of the prong. However, when the pickup cloth is lifted, as shown in Figure 11, the edge 3 is prevented from disengaging from the handle 51 by the engagement of the sharp sides 56 of the notches in the concave surface of the prong 55 with the edges of the opening 60 in the pickup member 7 and strap 6.

Alternatively, when the prong 55 is placed .in opening 69, the member 64 may be in retracted position with the handle rotated 180 from the position shown to present the convex surface of the prong 55 upwardly and facilitate the insertion of the prong in the opening. Thereafter, the handle is rotated through 180 to place the notched concave portion of the prong upwardly and the member 64 is then moved forwardly into projected position. It will be understood that in projected position the curved portion 65 conforms with the tube 11 to prevent rotation of the handle 51 relative to the tube and to the pickup cloth, at its edge 2.

The member 64 is provided with a curved end portion 67 which is adapted to engage the forwardly and downwardly curving apron of the pickup member 7 to thus index the edges 2 and 3 transversely and to prevent rotation of the edge 3 and the pickup member 7 relative to the tube 11 and the handle 51. If desired, more positive indexing means may be placed at the opposite ends of the pickup member 7 to ensure the transverse alignment of the edges 2 and 3. However, unless a very heavy load is placed greatly off center, the projecting portions of the member 64 will ensure proper indexing of the two edges and also prevent their rotation relative to the handle.

To dump the modified form of the invention, the pouch formed by the pickup cloth, which as explained before for the preferred embodiment may or may not have the drawstrings 42, is placed in position where the debris is to be dumped and the edges 2 and 3 held elevated. Thereafter, the wing nut 66 is loosened and the member 64 retracted to permit rotation of the handle 51 relative to the tube 11 and pickup member 7 and strap 6. The handle 51 is thereafter rotated through 180 to present the smooth convex surface of the prong 55 upwardly and the pickup member 7 will thereafter fall downwardly with the edges of the opening 60 sliding over the smooth convex surface of the prong. To effect this movement of the pickup member 7 and edge 3, a slight jerk may be necessary to start the downward fall of the pickup member and it will thereafter continue by gravity into the fully opened position of the cloth to dump the debris therefrom, the cloth then assuming the position shown in Figure 12.

In the modified .form of the invention, it is seen that the handle 51 may be readily disassembled from the tube 11 by removing the pin 59 and washer 58 whereupon the handle may be readily removed from the pin by extracting the stud 53 from the opening through the tube. Thereafter, the pickup device may again be packaged by assembling the handle with the two rigid edges 2 and 3 and wrapping the pickup cloth thereabout to form a compact package.

While certain preferred embodiments of the invention have been specifically disclosed, it is understood that the invention is not limited thereto, as many variations will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art and the invention is to be given its broadest possible interpretation within the terms of the following claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a pickup cloth for lawn debris, means for rigidifying a front edge of the cloth to facilitate movement of debris thereover, means rigidifying a back edge of the cloth, a manual handle connected to the back edge of the cloth for manipulation, means for holding the back and front edges of the cloth together to form a pouch '6 for the debris to be carried by said handle, and means for readily disengaging the front edge from the back edge when desired to perform a dumping operation.

2. In a pickup cloth for lawn debris, means for rigidifying a front edge of the cloth to facilitate movement of debris thereover, means rigidifying a back edge of the cloth, a manual handle connected to the back edge of the cloth for manipulation, means for holding the back and front edges of the cloth together to form a pouch for the debris to be carried by said handle, and means for readily disengaging the front edge from the back edge when desired to perform a dumping operation, said handle being readily disassembled from the back edge to facilitate bundling of the handle and rigid edges in the cloth to form a package.

3. In a pickup cloth for lawn debris, means for rigidifying a front edge of the cloth to facilitate movement of the debris thereover, means rigidifying a back edge of the cloth, a manual handle connected to the back edge of the cloth for manipulation, means for holding the back and front edges of the cloth together'to form a pouch for the debris to be carried by said handle, including indexing means for maintaining the front and back edges in alignment and means for readily disengaging the front edge from the back edge when desired to perform a dumping operation.

4. In a pickup cloth for lawn debris, means for rigidifying a front edge of the cloth to facilitate movement of debris thereover, means rigidifying a back edge of the cloth, a manual handle connected to the back edge of the cloth for manipulation, means for holding the back and front edges of the cloth together to form a pouch for the debris to be carried by said handle, means for drav ing each side edge of the cloth together to complete the pouch, and means for readily disengaging the front edge from the back edge when desired to perform a dumping operation.

5. In a pickup cloth for lawn debris, means for rigidifying a front-edge of the cloth to facilitate movement of debris thereover, means rigidifying a back edge of the cloth, means for holding the back and front edges of the cloth together to form a pouch for the debris to be carried, drawstrings for the side edges of the cloth for that ing them together to complete the pouch, and means for readily disengaging the front edge from the back edge when desired to perform a dumping operation.

6. In a pickup cloth for lawn debris, means for rigidifying a front edge of the cloth to facilitate movement of debris thereover, means rigidifying a back edge of the cloth, a manual handle for carrying said cloth, means for holding the back and front edges of the cloth together to form a pouch for the debris to be carried by said handle including indexing means for maintaining the front and back edges in alignment, drawstrings for the side edges of the cloth to complete the pouch, and means for readily disengaging the front edge from the back edge when desired to perform a dumping operation.

7. In a pickup cloth for lawn debris, means for rigidifying a front edge of the cloth to facilitate movement of debris thereover, means rigidifying a back edge of the cloth, a manual handle for carrying said cloth, stays extending inwardly from the side edges of the cloth to stiffen the side portions of the cloth into flaps which fully open when the cloth is spread out, means for holding the back and front edges of the cloth together to form a pouch for the debris to be carried by said handle, and means for readily disengaging the front edge from the back edge when desired to perform a dumping operation.

8. In a pickup cloth for lawn debris, means for rigidifying a front edge of the cloth to facilitate movement of debris thereover, prongs on said rigidifying means adapted to be inserted into the ground to anchor the front edge in position, means rigidifying a back edge of the cloth, means for holding the back and front edges of the cloth 7 together to form a pouch for the debris to be carried, and means for readily disengaging the front edge from the back edge when desired to perform a dumping operation.

9. In a pickup cloth for law debris, means for rigidifying a front edge of the cloth including a rigid member attached thereto having a top surface and a downwardly projecting forward surface, prongs on said member insertable into the ground to anchor the member and front cloth edge, a plurality of teeth on the forward edge of said member facilitating its insertion into lawn grass, means rigidifying a back edge of the cloth, a manual handle for carrying said cloth, means for holding the back and front edges of the cloth together to form a pouch for the debris to be carried by said handle, and means for readily disengaging the front edge from the back edge when desired to perform a dumping operation.

10. In a pickup cloth for lawn debris, means for rigidifying a front edge of the cloth to facilitate movement of debris thereover, means rigidifying a back edge of the cloth, a manual handle connected to the back edge of the cloth for manipulation, spring latches automatically operating when the front and back edges are engaged for holding the edges of the cloth together in transverse align ment to form a pouch for the debris to be carried by said handle, and means for readily unlocking the latches to disengage the front edge from the back edge when desired to perform a dumping operation.

11. In a pickup cloth for lawn debris, means for rigidifying a front edge of the cloth to facilitate movement of debris thereover, means rigidifying a back edge of the cloth, a manual handle connected to the back edge of the cloth for manipulation, latches mounted on the back edge rigidifying means, hasps on the front edge rigidifying means automatically locked in said latches when the edges are engaged by manipulation of said handle whereby the edges are indexed and held together to form a pouch for the debris to be carried by said handle, and manually manipulable means mounted on said handle for disabling the latches to disengage the front edge from the back edge when desired to perform a dumping opernon.

12. In a pickup cloth for lawn debris, means for rigidifying a front edge of the cloth to facilitate movement of debris thereover, means rigidifying a back edge of the cloth, a manual handle connected to the back edge of the cloth for rotation about the longitudinal axis of the handle, and means for engaging said handle with the front edge of the cloth to form a pouch for the debris to be carried by said handle, manual rotation of said handle disengaging the front edge therefrom to perform a dumping operation.

13. In a pickup cloth for lawn debris, means for rigidifying a front edge of the cloth to facilitate movement of debris thereover, means rigidifying a back edge of the cloth, a manual handle connected to the back edge of the cloth for rotation about the longitudinal axis of the handle, means for engaging said handle with the front edge of the cloth to form a pouch for the debris to be carried by said handle, manual rotation of said handle disengaging the front edge therefrom to perform a dumping operation, and means for locking the handle against rotation to prevent involuntary disengagement of the front edge.

14. In a pickup cloth for lawn debris, means for rigidifying a front edge of the cloth to facilitate movement of debris thereover, means rigidifying a back edge of the cloth, a manual handle connected to the back edge of the cloth for rotation about the longitudinal axis of the handle, a prong extending from the handle and engageable with the front edge of the cloth to form a pouch for the debris to be carried by said handle, said handle in one position interlocking said prong with the front edge and when rotated to a second position disengaging the front edge and prong to perform a dumping operation, means for locking said handle in said one position against involuntary rotation, and means for indexing said front and back edges together in transverse alignment when engaged.

15. in a pickup cloth for lawn debris, means for rigidifying a front edge of the cloth to facilitate movement of debris thereover, means rigidifying a back edge of the cloth, a manual handle connected to the back edge of the cloth for rotation about the longitudinal axis of the handle, a prong extending from the handle and engageable with the front edge of the cloth to form a pouch for the debris to be carried by said handle, said prong having transverse teeth at one side thereof preventing disengagement of the front edge therefrom, the opposite side of the prong being smooth, means for locking the handle against rotation with teeth side of the prong disposed upwardly in engaging position, said locking means being readily releasable to permit rotation of the handle to present the smooth prong side upwardly to disengage the front edge and perform a dumping operation.

16. In a pickup cloth for lawn debris, means for rigidifying a front edge of the cloth to facilitate movement of debris thereover, means rigidifying a back edge of the cloth, a manual handle connected to the back edge of the cloth for rotation about the longitudinal axis of the handle, a prong extending from the handle and engageable with the front edge of the cloth to form a pouch for the debris to be carried by said handle, said prong having its end longitudinally curved with the concave surface provided with transverse notches and the convex surface smooth, and means for locking the handle against involuntary rotation with the concave surface of the prong upward, said locking means including means engaging the front edge to index the engaged front and back edges in transverse alignment, said handle being rotatable when the locking means 'is released to present the convex prong surface upward to disengage the front edge to perform a dumping operation.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 617,267 Wiley Jan. 3, 1899 2,543,597 Peery Feb. 27, 1951 2,630,663 Hoopingarner Mar. 10, 1953 

